"Lôn Las Cymru (Cycle Route 8) is part of the UK's National Cycle Network. It is a 250 mile route that runs from Holyhead to Builth Wells (Lôn Las Cymru (North)) and from Builth Wells to either Cardiff or Chepstow (Lôn Las Cymru (South)). Locally the cycle route is used by cyclists and walkers.

Start from the Wyeside Arts Centre in Builth Wells and cross the bridge over the River Wye, head towards Jewsons in Llanelwedd.

To the right of Jewsons is a gate and a Cycle Route 8 sign, go through the gate and follow the pathway across Jewsons yard.

Don't be afraid to have a look around, this short stretch is rich in flora and fauna. Wild flowers such as goatsbeard, hedge bindweed, rosebay willowherb, tufted vetch, welted thistle and yarrow are in abundance in the summer along with darting butterflies, damselflies and bumblebees buzzing from one flower to another.

Long-tailed tits and goldfinches are frequently seen near to the hedgerows. Rabbits too are everywhere and the occasional fisherman fishes silently for salmon on the River Wye.

At the end of the yard is a latched gate, through here the route passes by a field full of sheep towards a small wood.

Continue through the dappled wood with its large rhubarb-like butterbur leaves and various white and pink bramble flowers; make the most of the bird song and breathe the fresh woodland air.

At about the 1 mile mark there is a millennium mile post funded by the Bank of Scotland, from here to the end of the pathway the route is straight, the masses of brambles, yarrow and meadowsweet make it attractive to insects including the small copper, a butterfly that is often found on the verges of railway lines and roads as well as heaths and meadows.

This is the end of the line for walkers however cyclists can turn left towards the Parc Menter Wyeside Enterprise Park and uphill to a roundabout, a Cycle Route 8 sign will direct you to the next part of the journey.

From here the views are scenic and the road 'hilly' with a few bends all the way to the next turning towards Aberedw. Enjoy the green wooded hills, fields with twisted old trees, sheep and hedgerows.

The roadside verges are again flower-filled with the yellow-headed catsear, goatsbeard and mouse-ear hawkweed, the painting complemented with pink foxgloves, white ox-eye daisies and purple tufted vetch.

The solitary, pale yellow mouse-ear hawkweed flowers are favourite spots for thick-legged flower beetles to congregate and dine on pollen. Both males and females are metallic green in colour, as good as any car finish, only the males though have 'thick hind legs' (below).

The downhill ride towards Aberedw passes by houses, farms and brown horses with foals; overhead the remarkable red kite often flies, having barely survived years of persecution, it is now spreading throughout Mid-Wales. Note its forked tail and reddish colour.

Pass by the turning for Aberedw, a special place for mayflies and the silver-washed fritillary, a spectacular bright orange-brown butterfly with black spots and lines.

Adults are nectar feeders and are often found near to open woodland, where they sip nectar from white bramble blossoms and thistles. In the spring the wood by the River Edw is carpeted with early purple orchids, meadow saxifrage and bluebells.

This is as far as I go, however Lôn Las Cymru (South) 8 continues through the heart of Wales twisting and turning all the way to its final destination at either Cardiff or Chepstow.

This article has been written as part of the Powys Flora Conservation Project, a project that aims to conserve our native flora in gardens throughout Mid-Wales.

For more information please e-mail the Project Manager Dr. Elisabeth Harris. Her e-mail address is plantsinpowys@yahoo.co.uk and she is currently based in Builth Wells, Powys.